My first Furtwangler exposure was 50 years ago. My sister and I were both starting to listen to Classical Music. She bought a Furtwangler recording of Beethoven’s Eroica from late WW II. It was cheap. My first exposure to B3, and with the crappy Sonics it sounded like it was recorded in the middle of an Air Raid. That recording imprinted me on the Eroica; no other recording has ever seemed to be such a life and death affair.
As I grew older and became a collector I have acquired other WF recordings but my reaction has been more variable. I’ve read a WF biography and pontificated in various Internet discussions.
I currently use the Pristine Audio streaming service, which has a good WF selection. I never shelled out for the expensive Japanese or German SACD collections.
Nice topic,btw